Premier Print increases growth pace with RMGT 924

Premier Print Group is poised to achieve a record monthly sales figure after successfully bedding in its new RMGT 924 LED-UV press as the centrepiece of its production facilities.

Gary (left) and Darren Goodson oversee both print and mail operations at Premier Print Group

The Beckton, east London-based magazine and publications printer installed its new four-colour press at the start of the year. Configured with automatic simultaneous plate changing, it replaced a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 to bring in extra capacity through the introduction of SRA1 to the previously all-Heidelberg, all-B2 site.

A further Heidelberg, an SX 74, remains on site, but the RMGT 924 will be the focal point of Premier’s output, which now runs 24/7 during peak periods. The new press’ arrival led to a 20% year-on-year increase of turnover for March this year, though joint managing director Darren Goodson said that May is set to surpass this.

Having turned over £2.5m in 2018, he said the firm is already on track to go over £3m in sales in 2019.

“We are a fast-expanding company and we needed extra capacity,” said Goodson, who runs the company with his brother Gary.

Darren Goodson added that while the company had looked at new and used B2 Heidelberg's, it proved more cost-effective to step up to SRA1 with the new RMGT.

“It is double the sheet size and it made sense as only around 5% of our work is B2. We specialise in short-run magazines and booklets, so this allows us to get faster turnaround, high productivity and to offer more competitive pricing.

“With the LED-UV curing we can speed things along with uncoated jobs that are notorious for taking a long time to dry. Now, we can process text pages on the RMGT and covers on the Heidelberg.”

A four-colour offset litho press, the RMGT 924 can print at speeds up to 16,200sph with instant curing thanks to its LED-UV technology.

It runs alongside Premier’s finishing portfolio, which saw the addition of a Horizon Stitchliner in October last year. The firm, which employs 21 members of staff on 929sqm premises, runs both printing and mailing services.